A better headline might be "Reform UK plan would devastate the lives of vulnerable people, while making the rich even richer."
Dan Etchells
@danetchells.bsky.social
Retired civil servant. Bit of walking & cycling. Red wine. Cherry & White rugby.
"‘They do look majestic’: tears and pride as first white storks set free in Cornwall. Twenty-one birds released on Bodmin Moor where it is hoped they will one day return to produce their own young." www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘They do look majestic’: tears and pride as first white storks set free in Cornwall
Twenty-one birds released on Bodmin Moor where it is hoped they will one day return to produce their own young
theguardian.com
So, Farage has managed to get more people to vote for him than for a bin... Bravo. See you in the Commons as soon as Recess is over then?? What's that?? You need to spend a bit more time with other people's money??
If you want to see fewer #nurdles on the beach then sign this petition.parliament.uk/petitions/75...
Petition: UK to mandate "zero plastic pellet loss" in line with new EU law ASAP
The EU recently formalised its Plastic Pellet Loss Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2025/2365), which mandates risk management plans and independent audits for large handlers. We want the UK to follow suit...
petition.parliament.uk
Sometimes, words fail you... "Trump signs order to limit childhood vaccines and split MMR shots. US President Donald Trump has signed an order that calls for fewer childhood vaccines and also recommends splitting the mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) shots." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Trump signs order to limit childhood vaccines and split MMR shots
The American Academy of Pediatrics calls the recommendation on measles, mumps and rubella shots "dangerous".
bbc.co.uk
Tuesday morning, Trend Setters... 😎 A lovely, not too hot stroll, with the Hairy Genius - and with a Red Admiral, too - and, happily, without a bull... 😁
M5 Gloucester - Tewkesbury, both ways, looking fubar. 10 August, 20.30
Name: Dan Etchells Hobbies: Requesting a Community Note against all the abject nonsense Musk posts or promotes on his own fucking platform.
I've always appreciated photos of birds torpedoing straight at the camera, partly because I've rarely gotten them myself. So it was quite a thrill when this Prothonotary Warbler flew right at me! 🎉🎉🎉 #Prothonotary #Wisconsinbirding #birdsseenin2026
The absolute definition of futile 'own the Libs' stupidity. And, totally unsurprising. "Trump administration to pay German firm $1.22bn to cut offshore wind leases." www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Trump administration to pay German firm $1.22bn to cut offshore wind leases
Agreement with RWE is fifth deal Trump team has made with energy companies, offering payouts to give up projects
theguardian.com
Friday morning, Trend Setters... 😎 A very sunny stroll, with the Hairy Genius in a DFZ (deer free zone)... 🙄
Thursday afternoon's least surprising news, ever... 😡 "Trump’s Gaza Board of Peace issues first building contract – for a military base. Exclusive: Louisiana firm awarded tender to build rudimentary outpost to house Moroccan troops." www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...
Trump’s Gaza Board of Peace issues first building contract – for a military base
Exclusive: Louisiana firm awarded tender to build rudimentary outpost to house Moroccan troops
theguardian.com
Government / Environment Agency playing a blinder, as per... 🤬 "All bodies of water in England polluted with toxic chemicals, official data shows. Environment Agency assessments find just 14.3% of country’s surface waters in good ecological status." www.theguardian.com/environment/...
All bodies of water in England polluted with toxic chemicals, official data shows
Environment Agency assessments find just 14.3% of country’s surface waters in good ecological status
theguardian.com
"Callas, Beethoven, bee-eaters or storks: competition seeks to redesign euro notes. The EU is using a currency redesign as an opportunity to be less neutral and try some finely balanced identity-building." www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...
Callas, Beethoven, bee-eaters or storks: competition seeks to redesign euro notes
The EU is using a currency redesign as an opportunity to be less neutral and try some finely balanced identity-building
theguardian.com
Saturday afternoon's least surprising news, ever... "ECB official warns climate crisis poses growing threat to ‘core financial stability’. Exclusive: As wildfires rage, Frank Elderson says more work needed to assess risk from collapse of ecosystem services." www.theguardian.com/business/202...
ECB official warns climate crisis poses growing threat to ‘core financial stability’
Exclusive: As wildfires rage across Europe, Frank Elderson tells the Guardian nature loss poses a growing risk to the global economy
theguardian.com
So, leaving bodies to rot viewed as slightly more serious than professing support for Palestine Action?? Wow.
Friday morning, Trend Setters... 😎 A stroll around Chosen Hill, with the Hairy Genius - feeling a bit more like it, post-radiotherapy - which is good news... We'll even gloss over Baxter flushing a 🦌 from cover and taking off after it... 🙄
It was a failed attempt at an honesty and empathy implant... The host rejected it.
"‘We have to become warriors’: the fight to save the world’s only women’s sculpture park." www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
‘We have to become warriors’: the fight to save the world’s only women’s sculpture park
With most monuments in London made by men, Claire Mander envisaged the Artist’s Garden as a way to redress the balance. Now, she says, it could be turned into a generic space for VIP events and cockta...
theguardian.com
I know some of these are 'speculative', but what an insane situation?? Connection requests of c. 60% more than our peak generating capacity?? "Energy regulator’s plan would mean upfront fees or financial security via letters of credit, bonds or cash deposits." www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Datacentre projects could face fees for grid access to ease connection queue, Ofgem says
Energy regulator’s plan would mean upfront fees or financial security via letters of credit, bonds or cash deposits
theguardian.com
Radiotherapy?? Completed it, mate. Huge thanks to the brilliant, caring and infinitely patient staff at Cheltenham General Hospital - "Could you just move your arm, Dan. No, not like that, like we asked you to yesterday. There, that's great. Now your other arm. No, not like that..."
There was relief amongst police forces nationwide following the horrific murder of Ann Widdecombe, after it was confirmed that they’ll no longer have to conduct murder investigations into such cases, as the social media detectives on X have already solved them. From the new Private Eye, out now.
Just had a quick lunch of cold, left over coconut dahl, lime pickle, yoghurt, chopped salad pepper and flatbread - bloody lovely!!
Saturday morning's least surprising TV programme review, ever... 😬
"Rare heron seen at Somerset estate where river has been allowed to run free. Black-crowned night heron one of many species thriving at Holnicote Estate where river ‘reset’ has transformed area into lush oasis." www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Rare heron seen at Somerset estate where river has been allowed to run free
Black-crowned night heron one of many species thriving at Holnicote Estate where river ‘reset’ has transformed area into lush oasis
theguardian.com
Well, what's the worst that could happen, eh?? Oh... "AI agent went rogue and hacked startup by itself, OpenAI reveals. Firm behind ChatGPT reveals agent powered by its models chose to attack Hugging Face database by itself." www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
AI agent went rogue and hacked startup by itself, OpenAI reveals
Firm behind ChatGPT reveals agent powered by its models chose to attack Hugging Face database by itself
theguardian.com
The Gaia Sausage??!!?? 😄 "Milky Way flipped in collision with dwarf galaxy 10bn years ago, astronomers say. Durham University researchers find cataclysmic direct hit with Gaia Sausage sent Milky Way into its current position." www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
Milky Way flipped in collision with dwarf galaxy 10bn years ago, astronomers say
Durham University researchers find cataclysmic direct hit with Gaia Sausage sent Milky Way into its current position
theguardian.com
Do you want to change out of your Pantomime Dame outfit, before we take you in?? What's that?? It's 'everyday wear'?? Oh, OK.
